The League Star, Steve Rannazzisi apologizes for False 9/11 claims

In a shocking announcement this week, comedian and star of The League Steve Rannazzisi, who has often told the story of how he escaped from the World Trade Center on 9/11, now says he was not in the Twin Towers when the terrorist attacks happened and has apologized for his claims.

As a young man, I made a mistake that I deeply regret and for which apologies may still not be enough, he said, beginning a series of tweets.

After I moved with my wife to Los Angeles from New York City in 2001 shortly after 9/11, I told people that I was in one of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11. It wasnt true. I was in Manhattan but working in a building in midtown and I was not at the Trade Center on that day, he continued.

I dont know why I said this. This was inexcusable. I am truly, truly sorry. … (I)t is to the victims of 9/11 and to the people that love them and the people that love me that I ask for forgiveness.

The misrepresentations in Rannazzisis story were revealed in an article in Wednesdays New York Times.

For years, Rannazzisi a native of Long Island has maintained he was working for Merrill Lynch on September 11, 2001, on the 54th floor of the South Tower. In actuality, according to The Times, not only was he not in the World Trade Center, he wasnt working for Merrill Lynch, which has no record of his employment.

In a 2009 interview with Marc Marons WTF podcast, Rannazzisi told his story.

The first tower got hit, and we were jostled all over the place, he told Maron. I went downstairs walked outside, saw all pandemonium, and then five, six minutes later, bang, he said of the second plane hitting the South Tower.

From that point, he continued, he fled uptown.

Rannazzisi moved to Los Angeles shortly thereafter, where he was plucked from obscurity by Ashton Kutcher and became part of the group on Kutchers MTV show, Punkd.

On the FX show The League, which premiered in 2009, he plays Kevin, the commissioner of the programs fantasy football league.

Rannazzisi is also a spokesman for Buffalo Wild Wings.

We are disappointed to learn of Steves misrepresentations regarding the events of September 11, 2001, the chain said in a statement to The Times. We are currently re-evaluating our relationship with Steve pending a review of all the facts.